Fuel-indicator for internal-combustion engines.



B. W. HURD. FUEL INDICATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27.19.

Patented June 4, 1918.

miles per gallon of fuel may be readily' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN W. HUBD, OF SIERRA MADRE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE E. MESECAB, OF SIERRA MADBE, CALIFORNIA.

FUEL-INDICATOR FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

1,268,718. Specification of Application filed June 27,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, BENJAMIN W. Hmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sierra Madre, in the'county of Los Angeles and State of Californimhave invented new and useful Im rovements in Fuel-indicators for Internalorn'bustion- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for indi eating the rate of fuel consumption in internal combustion engines such as are em ployed on .motor propelled vehicles, or stationary engines, and the primary object is to provide'an indicator supported on the efdischarge,and, there instrument hoard of a vehicle soms tobe clearly visible at all -ti|nes"to the'operator and arranged to indicate the rate of fuel consumption in gallons per hour or miles er allon.

connecting the indicator with the fuel supply system of the engine at a. point between the fuel tank and the carbnreter so'that-the quantity of fuel supplied to the engine, under all conditions, may be employed for registering upon the dial of the indicator the proportionate rate of consumption.

My indicator is preferably used in con-' nection ,with the commonly used types, of speedometers which-indicate the -speed of .the vehicle in. miles per hourja'nd the indi means, is therefore arranged for incatin dicatmg the fuel consumption in gallons per hour, so that by combining the two readings at any time the rate of fuel consumptionunobtained. For instance, at a given time and under given conditions, thcspccdometer readsumption will beflOi, thus-representingohe ing being 30 miles per hour and the fuel in dicator reading being 3 gallons er hour, it w ll be ObVlOHS that. the rate 0 fuel congallonof fuel used for ten miles-,thisTeSult: being obtained by dividing 30 by 3.

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a. simple and economical structure which. may be readily attached to all types of'motor vehicle or other engines without alteration of any of the parts of the engine or indicating means and'which may be easily cleaned when necessary. j 4

A further object is to provide means between the fuel suply tank and the engine through which the volume of fuel used must.

Letters Patent. Patented J 11118 4, 1918.

1917. Serial No. 178,304.

tionate rates of sup ly and discharge therefrom may be varied and regplated, and the difference, if any,'between t e rates of supply and discharge employed for registerlng the rate at which the fuel is being used.

It will be understood, from the considera tion of the specification hereinafter following and the drawings hereto' annexed, that my invention, in a slightly modified form, may be; used for indicatin the rate of discharge of other liquids to an fuel by the interposition of the measuring device be tween the source of supply and the point ore, other uses than the 'fore oing'may-be foundto which my improv "device may be put.

I attain the'aboveobjects by means of the structureshown in the drawings hereto annglged and forming apart of this appli- .A further object is to prov-ide'rneans for cation, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation ,of my fuel indicating system as attached to a motor vehicle engine, shown in section. Fig. 2 is'a front 'view ofthe indicator and housing. Fig". 3 is a sectional elevation of the indicator and housing. Fig. 4 is a. longitudinal sectional. elevation of the same on line H" of Fig. 3. Fig. 5' is as'ectional plan'of'Fig. 1 on line 5 Sand Fig. fi isa sectional plan of the sameon line 6-6. Fi 7' is an' enlarged view of the needle ya ve stem and support therefor.

8 a fraglnentaryi'jew, partly in section, of the needle valve head. P Similar charactors of reference are employed throughout 311s s ecifi'cation 'and the' several viewsof G like partsr" Referring to the seyeral cooperating ele- -n'|ents and.thepreferred' form thereof as the ol'jects 'of my"invention, the device comerse i inbfiitan -we ds?! sultably sllpppried i ano nt-between and some: 1

in communication th' theni'i al fuel tank -21and the-citrburetelr some an indicator mechanism A adapted to be supported at a convenient point'on the vehicle instrument board.

The receptacle} is of cylindrical formation and hasa' 'float chamber 4 on the interior which is closed at" thetop by means of a removable cover 5 held in position by means of a plurality {of rods or bolts 6 threaded into the bottom 7, and a suitable ll of necessity pass and whereby the proporgasket or packing piece may be placed berawing's for indicating the same or tween the cover and the end of the receptacle for rendering the chamber 4 water or liquid tight. Suitable In 8 are formed on or attached to the perip cry of the receptacle 1 which may be adwstably attached to a bracket 9 supported on the dash board 10 of the vehicle, so that the height of the receptacle, for reasons which will hereinafter appear, may be adjusted. The manner of ad1usting the height of the. receptacle shown, consists of movin the lugs 8 relative to the elongated slots 1 formed in the lugs 12 of the bracket 9, through which screws or bolts 13 held in the lugs 8 on the receptacle, may be extended and fghtened.

The lower end of the receptacle has an integrally formed valve chamber 14, the walls 15 of which extend substantially upward into the float chamber 4 and also below the outer surface of the bottom 7, anda cap 16 is adapted to be threaded on the lower extension of the valve chamber walls, forming a closure for the valve chamber when the device is in use and permitting the same to be cleaned at any time when the cap is removed. A cored fuel passage 17 is formed in the floor of the chamber 4 which has an extension paralleling the chamber 14 with which the passage communicates at a point'18 near the top of they chamber ML The outer land of passage 17 terminates in a lug 19 formed on the periphery of the receptacle 1, and is connected with t'he main fuel tank'2 by means of a relatively small tube 20 in whicha union 21 is placed for; facilitating the connection of the tube. 'lihus, the fuel from the tank 7 x2, is permitted to flow uninterruptedly through passage 17 and tube 20 into the valve chamber 14 in the receptacle.

The upper end of the valve chamber 14 has a beveled valve seat and opening 23 formed therein which slidablyreceivem an inverted and correspondin ly tapered needle valve 24 having an upwardly extended stem 25 which is threaded at the uppenend to re ceive a pair'of nuts 26, shown in Figs. 1

and 7. These nuts have enlarged hexagonal or square portions by means of which they may be turned for attachment to and detachment from the valve stem and reduced abutting end portions 27, and a. thin metallic spider 28 is held between the turning portions of the nuts with bu slight play or clearance so as to permit the adjustment of the valve stem to any slight variation from a vertical plane which may result from or ensue during the operation of the indicator.

The lprongs 29 of the spider are adapted to pierce the internal periphery of the centrally/positioned. heat 30 which is prefer- "abl of cork, thus servin to hold the valve 65-stem centrally .in the ho ow 31 of the float.

in the front end t The vertical cover retaining rods 6 serve as guides for the vertical movement of the float 30 in the chamber 4, peripheral grooves 32 being formed in the float for engagement with said rods and a pair or more of pointed metallic clips 33 having suitable eyes for receiving the rods being provided for holding the oat in operatin position, the points of the clips piercing t e periphery of the float, as shown in F1 s.-1 and 6.

It will be obvious rom the foregoing description of the structure of the receptacle 1 and its connections, that the fuel from tank 2 will flow through passage 17 and tube 20, as stated to valve chamber 14, and when the valve 24 is in such a positionthat a clearance in the valve seat will be provided, the fuelrwill flow into the chamber 4 of the receptacle, and the float 30 will rise to the level of the fuel in the'chamber, thus raising the valve correspondin ly, by means of the connections described. outlet for chamber 4' is provided at 34 on the periphe of receptacle 1 and at a point diametrica ly opposite to the passage 17, a lug '85 being provided which is connected by means of a union 36 and tube 37 with the. carbureter 3, and the area of the inlet passage 17 and outlet 34 should be equal or substantially so for the best results. Y

The indicating means forming part of my i invention consists of a receptacle 38 having an opening on the front side of the instrument board 39 of the vehicle to which the indicating means is attached b means of screws 40 extending through a an e- 41 on the receptacle 38; a housing 42 for olding the indicator actuating means and slidably disposed in the receptacle 38; and an' indicator housin 43 also held in the receptacle and havingl a glass 44 suitably held ereof for rendering the operation of the indicator visible to the operator at all times.

A drum 45 is revolubly supported in the housing member 42 on a spindle 46, journaledl in the rear and front walls of the housing and extended at the forward end through the rear wall of the front housing member 43, the spindle being provided within the hpusing 43 with a pointer 47.

A fiat spiral spring 48 is provided for attachment at opposite ends to the spindle 46 and a stud 49 held on the rear wall of the housing 42, respectively, and serves to revolve the spindle and drum whenthe spring is in tension, for moving the indicator or pointer 41' over the graduated surface of the rear wall of the housin member 43, the scale 50 thus formed eing marked, as shown, in gallons and fractions of gallons per hour and the indicator being movable in a clock-wise direction around the scale;

A small flexible wire or cable 51 is provided for operably connecting thedrum 45 with the valve 24, and the upper end of this wire isgiven a few turns around and .5 secured to the drum, is threaded through a guide 52 attached to the wall of the housing 42 and is then extended downwardly through a tube 53 which is threaded at opposite ends to lugs 54 and 55, respectively, formed on the housing member 42 and the cover 5 of receptacle 1. The lower end of the wire cxtends through a small bore 56 in the valve 24 and the stem thereof and the end thereof is provided with a suitable head for engagement with the lower end or head of an adjustment nut 57, through which the wire also is extended, and the nut is internally threaded into a counterborc 58 in the valve head. It will be obvious that when the nut 57 is adjusted in the counterbore-of theyalve head, the position of the pointer relative to the scale in housing member-13 may be reg ulated, by means of the tension of the spring 48. V I p In operation, the time necessary in which to completely evacuate a tank of a given body of fuel through a pipe of given area being first determined, and the tubes 20 and 37being of equal area'and attacl'icdto the tank 2 and carburetor 3, respectively, the

possible discharge from receptacle "1 will equal the supply thereto; but the clearance around the valve 24- ot' the opening in i alve' chamber 14 communicating w th chamber 4 of the receptacle serves to restrict the' discharge of the fuel into the reccptaclcto a degree. proportionate with thercquirements of the engine, and there will usuallybe a surplus quantity of fuel stored in the receptaole, thus raising the float 30 a correspond p ing distance fromits lowermost limit of ao- When the engine isin fuel is withdrawn fromfthe chamber-4, the float 30 is gradually lowerediand th'e area, of the valve opening correspondingly increased, until the float attains the lowermostlimit of action, whereupon the maximum volume of fuel will be discharged from valve chamber 14 into chamber 4,and in such case, the supply of fuel to chamber 4 will' exceedjthedis charge to the carburetor until a neutral point mid way between the limits of action ofithe float is attained, when thelsupply 'ahdjdis charge will be equal, and if the requirements of the engine remain the same as at this point the float will remain suspended oe'n trally between its limits of action until the conditions are changed.

When thefloat attains its uppermost plane of'actlon, the valve opening substantially restricted by" valve 24, the supply offuelto the possible dis-f chamber 14 will be less than charge from chamber 4 to the parburcter,

and the requirements of therngine being relativelfy smallv tho float will remain in the plane 0 action-stated until'conditiuns are ation; fas the new; we

again changed, and will be again lowered as the volume of fuel necessary for operating the engine is increased. Thus, when the float is at its highest plane in chamber 4, a. minimum amount of fuel will be used by the engine and when at its lowest plane a maximum amount, will 'be used and the movement of the limit in its vertical plane of action willat all times be proportionate to the amount of fuel used by the engine.

From the connection described between the float and indicator. it will be readily understood that a given movement in a vertical direction of the float 30 will effect a given and corresponding rotary movement of the drum and spindle with which the float is connected, and the indicator or pointerwill thus be moved to a correspond ing distance over the scale in housing 43. The movement of the float and indicator being proportionate to the flow of the fuel in gallons per hour, the relative use of the fuel will be so indicated by the pointer on the scale, as atfifl, 2, 3, 4, cm,- representing gallons pcrhonr. As hereinbefore stated, the miles per allon may be obtained by dividing the speedometer reading by the in'dicamrreading. The position of the indicator will vary according to the use of'the fuel in a manner similar to a speedometer. 95 It willbc understood that with the rising of the float in chamber 4, the tension on spring 48 will be relieved correspondingly, and-the pointer thus moved; whilelhe downward movement of the float will increase the tension of the spring correspondin ly, the fioatbeing of su olent weight for 't llS pur ose. v

The discharge of any liquid froma tank may be re lated and the rate of flow measured by he attachment of-the receptacle 1 and indicator to the tank.v It is conceived to bc possible lornodil'y and jaltenthc structure shown without enlarging the scope of or departing from the spirit ofy'invention, and I desire to claim broadly fthereon.

" Having thus described my invention, what I claim, -is': fl An'indica tingmechanismcomprising a 1 5 fluid receptacle having a main chamber prol an outlet, a" valve chamber berd nlet and."outle t,'an inlet passage alve' chamber/out of communica- I inain' chamber and communi- 1 0 eatingfwith "the interior of said receptacle, a spring retractedindicator, a limit insaid receptac e'conn'ected with and for operating said indicator, and. a valve in said chamber supported on said float for regulating the flow of the liquid.

2. An indicating mechanism comprising an indicator, a fluid rece taclehaving a. main fluidchamber and a vali'e chamber com- .muuiuating therewith, a valve in said valve chamber extending into said fluid chamber, a float suspended in said fluid chamber for supporting said valve, said valve bein adapted to close the opening between said chambers as the liquid rises in said main chamber, and means for 0 erably connecting said float with said va ve and said indicator for operating said valve and said indicator correspondingly.

3. An indicating mechanism com rising a stationary dial and a movable in icator, a fluid receptacle having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said receptacle, a cable connectingsaid valve with said indicator, a rigid tube for incasing said cable, a float suspended in said receptacle, and means for supporting said valve on said float, for ac-, tuating said valve and said indicator relative to the flow of liquid through said receptacle.

4. An indicating mechanism comprisin an indicator, a casing having a main liqui chamber, a valve casing extending into and having a chamber communicating with said main chamber, an inlet passage extending through the floor of said rece tacle to said valve chamber, outlet means or said main chamber and combined valve and indicator actuating means in said main chamber, and

means for directly connecting said actuating means with said indicator.

5. An indicating mechanism comprising an indicator, a liquid receptacle having a valve disposed therein, a, float for actuating said valve, a cable for directly connecting said valve with said indicator for efi'ecting an equal movement of the indicator relative to the valve, and a rigid tube connecting said receptacle and said indicator for incasing said cable.

6. An indicating mechanism comprising in combination an indicator, a receptacle having a fluid chamber therein, a valve chamber centrally formed below said liquid chamber and having a valve port for affording communication betweensaid chambers, an inlet passage leading from the exterior of said receptacle to and in communication with said valve chamber and disconnected from said fluid chamber, a float mounted within said fluid chamber and adapted to rise and fall, respectively, with the rise and fall of the liquid therein, a needle valve supported on said float and extending through said port into said valve chamber for re ulating the flow of the liquid from said va ve chamber into said fluid chamber,- a rigid tube connecting said indicator and said receptacle, and a cable for connecting said indicator and said valve,rand adapted to be incased by said tube.

7. In a device of the character described, an indicator housing and a fluid receptacle spaced apart and in communication with each other, an indicator mounted in said and an housing, a float mounted in said rece tacle a cable connecting said indicator an said float, an inlet chamber being formed in the bottom of said receptacle and adapted to be connected with a liquid supply means, and a valve connected with said float and operating in said chamber for regulating the flow of liquid therefrom to said receptacle, the rising of the liquid and said float in said receptacle serving to restrict the inlet passage thereto.

8. In a device of the character-described, the combination with a primary fluid receptacle and a carbureter, of an auxiliary receptacle having a main liquid chamber and an inlet chamber therein, liquid supply means connecting said primary receptacle directly with said inlet chamber, an outlet for said auxiliary receptacle connected with said carbureter, a conical valve operating between said inlet chamber and said main chamber for regulating the flow of liquid, an indicator, a float in said main chamber connected with said valve, and means for directly connecting said float and said valve with said indicator for controlling the movement of the indicator relative to said float.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with mechanism for indicating the rate of flow of the liquid, of a fluid receptacle having a main fluid chamber and an inlet chamber formed below and extending upwardly into said main chamber, and a valve seated in said inlet chamber and extending into said main chamber and connected with said indicatin mechanism, and a float in said main cham r for operating said valve, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with mechanism for indicating the rate of flow of the li aid, of a fluid recleptacle having a main flui chamber et chamber formed in the bottom of said main chamber, a float movably supported in said main chamber, and a valve seated in said inlet chamber and attached to said float and operably connected with said indicating mechanism.

fluid receptacle having a main liquid chamher and an inlet chamber formed in the bottom of said main chamber and communieating therewith, a float movably disposed in said main chamber, a conical valve seated in said inlet chamber and attached to said float, and means for connecting said valve and said float with said indicating mechanism, said float being adapted to raise said valve andrestrict the opening between said main chamber and said inlet chamber when the li uid rises in said main chamber.

12. a device of the character described, the combination of a fluid receptacle having a main fluid chamber provided with an outlet and an inle tom of said with an inlet main chamb t chamber formed in the botmain chamber and provided passage disconnected from said er, an indicator housing, a

spring retracted indicator mounted therein, a float actuated valve seated in said inlet chamber and adapted to regulate the flow of liquid there from to said main chamber,

and means for connectin said valve di- 1 rectly with said indicator for indicatin the rate of flow of the liquid through sai receptacle.

BENJAMIN w. HURD. 

